Regulars of the Forty Foot in Dublin are protest there today, as part of the Save Our Seafront campaign.
The spot at Sandycove beach is popular with bathers, divers, kayakers and people who fish and is well known for the traditional Christmas morning dip.
However, locals are concerned after a foreshore license was granted to Providence Resources in October, which allows for oil and gas exploration just six kilometres from the Dublin shoreline.
It is feared an oil spill could contaminate Dublin Bay in as little as two hours, impacting on wildlife in the area.